The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-06-02

lowing the advice of Douglas and the example OF
Logan and side by side with the Republican
hosts. were fighting to preserve the Union, the
remnant of the Northern Democracy. in posses
sion OF she party organization, used 1t PRACTICAL
ly in aid of the rebellion.
AS to the Southern wing of the Democratic
party, they at least had during the war the
courage Of their convictions. Led by false the
cries and local pride into armed resistance. they
did maintain their cause with even more than
the courage and sacrifices of the Loyalists of La
Vendee. While condemnIng their cause we can
respect their fidelity to it and the sincerity or
their motives
But in spite of all. rebels and copperheads
combined, in spite of English cruisers under
rebel flags and English cannon, muskets. arms
and ammunition. the Union armies prevailed,
Lincoln was reelected. army after army sur
rendered to General Grant, the Union was re-
stored. and the flag of our country waved in I'M
disputed authority from Virginia TO Texas. One
blow was yet to be struck. aud that WAS by the
hand of assassin. inspired by the fanatIclsm
of the rebellion. Lincoln killed when his
heart was full of gratitude to God, generosity to
sanquished rebels and good will to all men, The
veteran armies of the Union were rapidly DIS
banded. Many of you, no doubt, Witnessed
and some of you, no doubt, marched In the
grandest pageant of modern times. the review of
the armies Of General Grant aud General Sher-
man in the streets of Washington and their re-
turn to their homes.
Let us pause at the end OF the and imac-
inc with what feeling these returning soldiers
would have received the prophecy that, within
twenty years, the same elements of hostility to
the L MON cause. Inc same AllADco DebWeeH
confederates and their sympathzers would be
in possession of the presidential Office and in
substantial control of the govern ment that the
slaves, though nominally free, were deprived by
unlawful means, of all political power. and their
number counted to swell the political power or
their former owners. Who could believe thai
snch could be the RESULT And what mockery
of Justice; what reproach TO our patriotism
what shame to our loyal people that 1t is 80.
Let US see where the fault lies.
SPIRIT AND POLICY OF TIE PARTIES.
What then the feeling and policy of the
Republican partyl 1t was not the triumph of
victory, but the sense of gratitude, that we had
preserved our country. and of charity for the
motives Of defeated coufederates, with the firm
conviction that they would share with us all the
blessings OF a strong and united people. The
Republican party shed no blood after the war
was over, made considerations. provided 10
punishments. 1t said to the confederate sol
universal desire among Republicans for
restoration OF the rebel States TO
their old place in the Union with
no conditions except such would secure
faithful observance of the laws of the United
States. Its first step was the adoption by the
several States of the Thirteenth amendment.
The second step was to put an end to the doc
trine of secession by the Fourteenth amendment.
as broad and liberal proposition in favor of
hnrnan liberty aud human rights ever was
framed by man. a series of measures were then,
from time 20 time, adopted by Congress, among
which were the gradual repeal of internal taxes,
the reduction OF the public debt, a system of
liberal pensions to Union soldiers, a revision
Of the tariff laws carefully framed to contn ne
the protection and encouragement of American
industry. The Pacific railroad was built The
Eaglsh government was compelled to make res
Litution for the work of her cruisers. The in
terest Of the debt enormously reduced by
the process of refunding, and, finally. by the
resumption of specie payments, our currency
was placed on tho coin basis. This series of
measures, solely the work of the Republican
party rapidly made good the waste of war, and
put the country upon the road of unexampled
progress and prosperity.
In what spirit was this met by the Democracyl
What language express the cruel and bar
barous atrocity OF the controlling elements OF
the South in their treatment OF Republicans,
both white and black, and especially of the
freedmen who mad been invested, by constitu-
tional amendments. with liberty and political
rights. Taking advantage of the detection of
Andrew johnson and mis- reconstruction policy
they commenced with laws that denied the freed
men liberty of speech and of the press, and even
the personal freedom and protection allowed by
the laws of the most despotic powers in Europe
to the meanest serf, followed by whole
sale assassination of unarmed and undis-
ciplined negroes inflicted by secret organ
ized and disguised bands using all the
agencies of terror and superstition that could
affect the mind of an ignorant and credulous
people with such success that in ten years after
the war the freedmen of the South could not,
a rule, vote wherever their vote would change
the result they could hold no Office, and might
be cheated and robbed, and murdered with i'm
purity. This intimidation was, in many places,
especially in the far South, extended to many
white Republicans of character and intelligence.
among them some confederate soldiers, who re-
sisted as far as they could these atrocities. and
were branded with opprobrous epithets, tabooed
and ostracized, and In some cases. muir
dered. Does any man deny thlsf
All this and more in hideous detail. was proven
before committees of Congress- reported by
officers OF the army and evidenced by every form
of proof known to courts, and, in many cases,
was .t 1dm nit by the press and people of s she
tineuished citizen of Illinois. has. in the book
have before me, compiled and condensed this
evidence. and saw to you that no man can read
1t without being convinced that all l say is true.
with revolving details that do not give. In
this way and by these means, the Democratic
party in the South now hold in solid and I'M
broken array every Southern State with in
creased political power conferred by the freedom
of the slaves. This is the basis of their power.
Without the terror and ostracism have described,
several of these States, governed by their inter
ests and convictions, enlightened by free discus
sion. emancipated in fact well as in name,
would be as thoroughly Republican Illinois.
1t is said that this is raising the bloody shirt;
newing the animosties of the ] deny it
The charge is an unjust reproach of confederate
soldiers. What | speak of is not the work of
soldiers, but of towards and criminals, not in
war. but in peace. l pity the man who cannot
distinguish between the duty of soldiers and self
imposed cruelties and barbarous methods born of
slavery.
What has been the course of the Democratic
party of the North while these events have
been going ONT At first there doubt and
denial, but now no honest man can doubt, unless
willfully ignorant No Democrat, with spark
of manhood. who hates these meth DDS can shield
himself behind doubt or disbelief.
And fellowcitizens. this is not a thing of the
past. tits oDtinuing fact Il is a fact to day.
There is not intelligent man in this broad
land. of either party. who does not know that
Mr.. Cleveland is now President of the United
States by virtue of crimes against the elective
franchise. including, murder, arson ballot-b box
stufing, forgery and perjury but for which
James g. Blaine would now be in his place.
There has not been a moment since the adoption
of the Fifteenth amendment when, If there
rouid have been fair election for President,
majority OF the constitutional voters of at least
ave Of the Southern States would not have voted
FOR the Republican nominee.
The poison of the success of these methods has
already affected the election in some of the great
cities of the North, especially Chicago and Gin
einnat where under the lead of Mackin and
Tosney, the criminal classes adopted some of the
meapest of the crimes to control elections Why
should they notl If crime should be resorted
by white Democrats of the South to cheat and
intimidate poor negroes in the South. why
should not white Democrats of the North be per-
mtted to resort to forgery and perjury to peace